Vaginal reconstruction with the muscle-sparing vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap.
BACKGROUND
The use of the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap in reconstruction is well documented. It can be used to fill defects in the walls of the chest, the abdomen, the groin and the perineum. In this study, details of observations on five patients who underwent vaginal reconstruction using a muscle-sparing vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (MS-VRAM) flap are presented.


METHODS
Between September 2006 and October 2007, five patients underwent vaginal reconstruction using a MS-VRAM flap. All patients had congenital absence of the vagina.


RESULTS
All MS-VRAM flaps survived completely. No complications occurred at the donor site of abdominal wall. In the course of 2-9 month follow-ups, the patients reported satisfaction, though they were unmarried and had no regular sexual partners. This study demonstrates that a new vagina can be created from the MS-VRAM flap and that the reconstruction is reliable, with low donor-site morbidity, easier surgical technique and shorter operation time. However, the major disadvantage of this technique is the conspicuous abdominal scar.
Weiwei
Li
L
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100032, China.
Zhifei
Liu
L
Ang
Zeng
Z
Lin
Zhu
Z
Dan
Li
L
Qun
Qiao
Q
D001187:Artificial Organs; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010502:Perineum / Q000601:surgery*; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult